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Boris Johnson says he’ll nonetheless be prime minister in October
Johnson is taking questions now. He’s requested if he’ll even nonetheless be prime minister by Diwali. “Sure,” he replies. The query, in its substance is repeated, And Johnson tells reporters he believes he has lined the questions on his ethical probity already.
Libby Brooks
Nicola Sturgeon has referred to as on Scottish voters to “inform the Tories precisely what we consider their antics and their inaction” whereas promising a “pandemic-level” response to the price of residing disaster.
Launching the SNP’s native council election manifesto in Greenock this morning, Sturgeon promised that “the fast precedence of each SNP councillor elected might be supporting households by means of the present price of residing disaster – not simply in phrases, however in motion”.
Describing decision-making in Westminster as “ideological, deliberate, and dangerous” she urged voters to “ship the strongest attainable message to this corrupt, out-of-touch Tory authorities”.
The manifesto contains commitments to prioritise growth of free early years schooling to all one and two-year-olds – beginning with kids from low-income households, defending council tax discount schemes and beginning a brand new “parental transition fund” to deal with the monetary boundaries dealing with mother and father coming into the labour market, in addition to a renewed dedication to holding a second independence referendum by the tip of 2023.
Right here’s a bit extra background to that query about guaranteeing no British-made arms find yourself in Russian arms by way of India. My colleagues Dan Sabbagh and Heather Stewart write:
Labour has stated Boris Johnson ought to name for ‘pressing motion’ from his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, after an influential defence thinktank warned this lunchtime that India was one in all quite a lot of main routes for arms-smuggling to Russia.
The warning comes just a few hours after Johnson introduced the UK would ease its arms exporting licensing preparations with New Delhi by issuing an open normal export licence to India, which means separate licences are now not wanted for many arms gross sales.
Labour’s John Healey, the shadow defence secretary, accused Johnson of happening a ‘self-importance journey’ – however stated he might use his go to to try to cease the unlawful provide of western parts highlighted by the Royal United Companies Institute (Rusi) in a report out on Friday.
‘In discussions with Prime Minister Modi at present he should press for pressing motion to clamp down on weapons elements passing by means of India and into Russian arms,’ Healey stated on the day that Johnson met with Modi in New Delhi. ‘He can use this report to assist halt the Russian struggle in Ukraine.’
The Rusi report, a 26-page overview of Russia’s general navy scenario, says western financial sanctions imply Moscow will grow to be more and more reliant on component-smuggling to make sure its jets, missiles and different high-tech munitions can operate. Some parts have a twin civilian and navy use.
Its authors – Jack Watling and Nick Reynolds – warn that ‘Russia has established mechanisms for laundering these things by means of third international locations’. They usually argue India needs to be topic to particular restrictions.
‘Proscribing entry, due to this fact, seemingly means stopping export to international locations corresponding to India of products which might be in some situations used for civilian functions,’ they write. ‘Furthermore, there are myriad firms based mostly all over the world, together with within the Czech Republic, Serbia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, India and China who will take appreciable dangers to fulfill Russia provide necessities.’
That concludes the press convention. The eagle-eyed amongst you’ll have observed that it was not, in truth a joint assertion from the leaders of each the UK and India, as we erroneously reported earlier. Johnson was showing alone at his personal press convention.
Russian victory in Ukraine an actual chance, acknowledges Boris Johnson
Johnson acknowledges {that a} Russian navy victory in Ukraine is an actual chance.
Putin has an enormous military. [But] he has a really tough political place as a result of he’s made a catastrophic blunder. The one choice he now has actually is to proceed to attempt to use his appalling, grinding method – led by artillery – attempting to grind the Ukrainians down. And he’s very near securing a land bridge in Mariupol.
Now, the scenario is, I’m afraid, unpredictable at this stage. You’ve simply acquired to be reasonable about that.
However what we’ve additionally seen is the unimaginable heroism of the Ukrainians and their willingness to battle. And I’ll inform you one thing: I believe, it doesn’t matter what navy superiority Vladimir Putin could possibly carry to bear within the subsequent few months – and I agree it may very well be an extended interval – he will be unable to overcome the spirit of the Ukrainian individuals.
That’s simply an observable truth. Quite the opposite, what he’s doing daily is strengthening and reinforcing that can to withstand within the individuals of Ukraine.
He provides:
We’ve acquired to have a look at what extra we will do militarily. We’ve acquired to maintain intensifying the financial sanctions. And that’s what we’re doing. We wish to guarantee that there may be wave after wave of intensifying strain on Putin.
Johnson is requested what he’s going to do to stop any UK-made arms ending up in Russian arms by way of India.
Labour has urged Johnson to name for “pressing motion” from Modi as an influential defence thinktank warns India is one in all a number of main routes for arms-smuggling to Russia. Johnson replied:
One of many issues which have been actually efficient within the sanctions that we’ve seen up to now is the ban on tech switch to Russia and that actually makes a distinction … We’ll be ensuring that we don’t enable any loopholes of any variety and we are going to take steps to guarantee that stuff doesn’t undergo different routes to Russia.
Johnson can be requested what strain he has exerted on New Delhi – and what extra he’ll exert – to face as much as Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
The prime minister says:
I believe you need to recognise that the the Indians really – and Narendra Modi specifically – have have come out and been very robust of their language about what’s occurred in Bucha.
It’s put to Johnson that his personal spokesperson has acknowledged he didn’t strain Modi to strengthen his place towards Vladimir Putin.
They will see what’s going on and there may be an rising urge for food to do extra with the UK.
He lists a number of areas of cooperation and says: “That’s being pushed by up to date occasions and I believe it’s a optimistic factor.”
Boris Johnson says he’ll nonetheless be prime minister in October
Johnson is taking questions now. He’s requested if he’ll even nonetheless be prime minister by Diwali. “Sure,” he replies. The query, in its substance is repeated, And Johnson tells reporters he believes he has lined the questions on his ethical probity already.
Johnson talks up strengthening the ties between India and the UK, saying the previous more and more lies within the geopolitical centre of the world. He units out his imaginative and prescient for a commerce settlement between the 2 nations to be accomplished by Diwali.
Indian funding already helps virtually half one million British jobs and, with a inhabitants greater than the US and the EU mixed, there may be a lot potential for us to take our commerce and funding to an entire new stage.
On this go to alone, we’ve secured new offers price £1bn, creating greater than 11,000 jobs.
And, maybe most importantly of all, we’re utilizing our Brexit freedoms to succeed in a bilateral free commerce settlement.
And at present, Prime Minister Modi and I instructed our negotiators to get it finished by Diwali in October. This might double our commerce and funding by the tip of the last decade.
UK to reopen embassy in Ukrainian capital, Johnson says
Johnson is up by himself now and is addressing the struggle in Ukraine. He denounces the “barbarism” being perpetrated by Putin’s forces and says the UK might be “sending extra artillery” and can reopen the embassy in Kyiv.
Johnson and Modi are about to provide a joint assertion. We’ll carry you reside updates as they arrive.
Johnson’s authority is “draining away” as he’s shedding help from inside the Conservatives, the shadow Northern Eire secretary Peter Kyle has stated. He instructed Sky Information:
If [No 10] had the numbers they might have defeated the movement yesterday.
They really put ahead a wrecking modification on the day to try to scupper the entire thing, and but they couldn’t, even with a majority of 80, get that by means of. In order that they pulled it out last-minute.
Which means there isn’t even sufficient Tory MPs who imagine that Boris Johnson is truthful to really get them to stroll by means of the foyer to say so.
You can really feel yesterday the authority of Boris Johnson and his authorities draining away.
And, conversely, while you see the three performances this week of Keir Starmer and the three performances of Boris Johnson, I believe it’s fairly clear who’s making the operating, who’s main proper now, and who’s main a celebration which is unified, and has concepts past Partygate; about how you can deal with the challenges within the economic system, in public companies, and how you can deal with crime.
There may be “no query” of Boris Johnson standing down over the Partygate row, the Northern Eire minister Conor Burns has stated.
Johnson is dealing with rising calls from some Tory MPs to face down after MPs selected Thursday that he ought to face a brand new investigation into whether or not he misled parliament. However Burns has instructed Sky Information:
There isn’t any query of the prime minister going. He stays assured that, when individuals can see the complete context of what occurred, it is going to be clear that he was simple, he stated to the home in good religion that he believed the principles have been adopted.
He’s wanting ahead to this ending. He’s wanting ahead to drawing this to a conclusion, for it to be examined totally in order that we will transfer on to the issues individuals are genuinely involved about.
Johnson initially issued a blanket denial of any wrongdoing in No 10, then claimed he had been instructed no events had even taken place. He later admitted personally attending the events however has claimed none of this amounted to an try and mislead the Commons, an offence for which a minister can be anticipated to resign.
Right here’s a full recounting of Boris Johnson’s shifting story:
Disaster deepens for Boris Johnson after parliament votes for inquiry into allegations he lied
The main target stays on the allegations of dishonesty and impropriety on the a part of the Boris Johnson, which critics each in opposition and in his personal social gathering have stated make him unfit to be prime minister.
Right here’s a quick take a look at what we anticipate at present:
- Johnson is braced for additional questions on what he knew about lockdown events in No 10 after MPs ordered a 3rd investigation into the Partygate affair on Thursday.
- The prime minister is in India, the place he’s assembly his counterpart, Narendra Modi, for talks. Johnson famous he wouldn’t get the identical “incredible welcome” in all places as his home worries deepened. He is because of give a press convention at about 11.30am BST.
- Amid rumours of a ministerial reshuffle, Johnson has promised Rishi Sunak will nonetheless be chancellor within the autumn, however refused to ensure a job for the house secretary, Priti Patel.
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